Healthy Siblings of Children With Crohn's Disease Exhibit More Rapid Changes in Microbiota Composition as a Response to Exclusive Enteral Nutrition

Background The aim of this study was to determine the impact of exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) on the microbiota composition of the newly diagnosed Crohn's disease (CD) patients and to determine the effect of EEN received for 2 days in siblings of patients with CD. Methods Newly diagnosed pediatric CD patients (n = 17) and unaffected healthy siblings (n = 10) participated in the study. In CD patients, stool samples were collected at 3 time points: prior to therapy introduction, the second day of EEN therapy, and the last day of EEN therapy. In healthy siblings, stool samples were collected before the introduction of EEN and the second day of EEN. Molecular approach targeting 16S ribosomal RNA was used for analyzing the gut microbiota of participants’ stool samples. Results There was no significant difference in microbial diversity between children with CD and healthy siblings before EEN (P = .127 for HhaI digestion; P = .604 for MspI digestion) as opposed to the second day of EEN (P = .006 HhaI digestion; P = .023 MspI digestion). In healthy controls, significant changes in microbiota composition were apparent by the second day of EEN, contrary to children with CD, in whom similar changes in microbiota composition were apparent on the last day of EEN. Conclusion EEN leads to significant microbiota changes in both healthy children and children with CD. Changes in microbiota composition occur more rapidly in healthy children, whereas in children with CD, significant changes were detected at the end of EEN.